NOTES : Speed Makes U.S. Favorite in Hockey Against Germany

The U.S. Olympic hockey team will have essentially the same lineup against Germany today as it did in its 6-3 victory over Italy Sunday, but its strategy will be slightly different.

Coach Dave Peterson plans to emphasize speed in his game plan, hoping his team’s swiftness can offset the Germans’ size and age. Germany defeated the Peterson-coached United States team, 4-1, at Calgary in 1988.

“They’re never easy,” Peterson said. “In the three world tournaments I’ve been in, at some point it seems we have to get by Germany each time.”

Picking up the pace in the third period Sunday enabled Team USA to rally for four goals against Italy.

“We threw some speed at them, and it really worked to our advantage,” said winger Tim Sweeney, who had a goal and two assists against Italy. “We’ve got a lot of speed on this team, and we have to take advantage of it.”

Canadian Coach Dave King said that the swift young U.S. players should have little difficulty in defeating ninth-seeded Germany.

“It’s a great mismatch of speed,” he said. “The Germans won’t be able to skate with the USA. Germany brought too old a team. If the U.S. skates and stays strong on the puck, it will win easily.”

Forward David Emma, who missed Sunday’s victory over Italy because of sore ribs, practiced Monday and was listed as possible for today’s game. If he plays, however, he probably will be limited to penalty killing.

Igor Dmitriev, assistant coach of the Unified Team, acknowledges that hockey officials in the Commonwealth of Independent States are in a quandary.

Although he would like to see an end to the exodus of players for the lucrative NHL, he also would hate to see an end to the infusion of cash NHL teams pay for permission to sign those players.

“The pace of players who are leaving cannot continue, or it will be too difficult for the Soviet Union to refuel,” Dmitriev said after the Unified Team had overwhelmed Norway, 8-1, improving its record to 2-0 in Group B.

“The NHL should control the situation so the process can be stabilized. . . . We have to be careful because we have our own game, and we would be in danger of losing our face. But without money, it is unclear how our national championship will be held this year or next.”

Dmitriev also said the hockey federation is considering the unprecedented step of accepting commercial sponsorship to help pay its expenses.